A European Union (EU) dumping charge against Chinese protective footwear makers has been dropped as leather shoemakers await the final ruling in their case.
The EU dumping charge against protective footwear imported from China was terminated after the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry formally withdrew its complaint, the European Commission said.
Chinese businesses had testified to the European Union that China's exports had not injured the bloc's shoemaking industry, said Li Fayin, a lawyer with beijing-based Allbright Law Office, who represented the Chinese firms in the case.
"This is the first time Chinese enterprises have won an anti-dumping case in the EU market by non-injury appeal since Chinese lighter makers were successful in 2003," he said.
The European Union launched dumping charges against Chinese leather shoes last July amid concern that increasing footwear imports from China would flood its markets and hurt local shoemakers.
It is the largest market for China in both value and volume, with an export of US$670 million and providing 4 million jobs.
The European Union now implements a "phase-in" tariff system on China's leather shoes as a result of its preliminary ruling on the case.
